Deputy Director, IT

ROLE:                                Deputy Director, IT

DURATION:                     12mo (Start date November)

Location:                           Hybrid – occasional travel to Los Angeles, CA

                                                                (LOCAL CANDIDATES PREFERRED)   

Status:                              c2c

Reports To:                    CIO

Domain:                           Automotive/manufacturing

Rate:                                  YOUR BEST RATE (DO NOT ASK FOR RATE)      

MOI:                                     TEAMS + F2F

SKILLS MATRIX:

 JOB DESCRIPTION

SUMMARY

The Deputy Director, IT will report to the Chief Information Officer and will be responsible for overseeing the Information Technology (IT) matters in North America, including the  group companies, and its affiliates.  The Deputy Director, IT will also oversee the development, implementation, and maintenance of the company’s IT and communication strategies and policies, including network, applications, and security.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

1.           Collaborate with the CIO to provide oversight of the group’s information technology functions.

2.           Assume an advisory role to support the local IT teams in North America.

3.           Collaborate with the CIO to develop and implement a comprehensive digital strategy and solutions that align with the mission of each  group company.

4.           Support and verify the implementation and maintenance of standardized systems, procedures, security protocols, and support.

5.           Forecast, develop, and advise the CIO on decisions related to IT’s annual budget and mid-term capital plans.

6.           Engage in close collaboration with the CIO to reinstate the IT Steering Committee meetings, which involve the participation of the CEO,  group financial leaders, and functional stakeholders.

7.           Collaborate with the CIO and the IT team to support the development of Business Continuity Planning, working towards establishing and maintaining effective contingency plans that can swiftly respond to disasters or disruptions in the workplace.

8.           Take the lead in collaborating with the CIO and the IT team to orchestrate Business Continuity Planning, aiming to create and uphold contingency strategies that effectively address potential disasters or disruptions in the workplace.

9.           Provide guidance to the CIO regarding ongoing improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing existing active monitoring solutions, with the goal of effectively monitoring system availability, performance, and utilization.

10.      Oversee and provide guidance on Cybersecurity readiness, which encompasses activities such as server patch management, system tuning, network optimization, database tuning, and the implementation of AI threat mitigation solutions.

QUALIFICATIONS 

1.             Extensive experience in IT management and strategy.

2.             Ability to articulate IT plans and strategic direction to non-technology managers and staff.

2.           Proven ability to hire, oversee, and develop IT managers and staff at remote locations.

3.           Deep experience in project management, including managing multiple locations over a multi-state geographical area.

4.           Knowledge of the latest developments in IT systems, infrastructure, and security.

5.           Strong negotiation skills to manage IT vendors. Able to review and advise on contracts, SOWs, and proposals.

6.           For applications - SAP, Hybris, Concur, and SalesForce basic knowledge is nice to have.

7.           For infrastructure – Private (hosted) cloud, SD WAN, Cisco VoIP, Telecom, SEIM, Microsoft Office, and VMWare basic understanding is nice to have.

8.           SOX compliance experience leading IT staff and all users is nice to have.

9.           Experience managing PMs and analysts in the development and implementation of business systems.

10.      Experience preparing and managing large budgets and projects.

11.      Management experience in a technical environment with a 24x7 on-call support schedule.

12.      Demonstrate outstanding analytical, decision-making, and presentation skills.

13.      Demonstrate outstanding communication (verbal, written and presentation) skills.

14.      Strong interpersonal skills are essential to effectively interact with all levels of management.

15.      Experience in a manufacturing and sales environment preferred.